The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-31
A SET OF SAPPHIRES.
BY OLIVE nEL1..

sIOou peslue ner husband S chair with q
strange hesitancy of look and manner
"could you let me have little money!"
John Morgan, head book keeper in the
commissionhouse of Macrny e. Co., laid
down his morning paper with sti1ed
sigh. lie looked up kindly into the
fair, rose-tinted face of his young wife,
whose sapph re blue eyes were bent on
his face expcctantly. lie did not reply
Tor moment, but drew her down on his
lap, and stroked the curly golden hair
with his slim white fingers. She was II
lovely, loving, but thoughtless little
woman-she was his wife, and he loved
her dcvotedly-bnt sometimes, not often,
her vanities Jared on his finer sensibili-
ties; for Cecil Morgan was not the woman
to meet the wants of grave, intellectual
man like her husband, whose worth,
honesty and nobility of thought was sim
ply inComprehensible to her tender, but
shallow nature.
$50, you want little money. How
much, Cecil"
He smiled as the dimplcs came and
went in the smooth pink checks.
'Oh, ever so much, John"
Cecils spirits rose as she caressed her
jeweled fingers, and she laughed in a
childish fashion.
"Well, out with it. How much2 Tell
meas she hesitated. II must hurry
down town, as we are unusually busy
Just now.n
"You are always that when | want any.
thing" pouted Cecil.
'Businuss is business he said, rather
impaticntly. "Tell me what you want,
Cecil
"Why, you know that lovely set Of
sapphires in Raby IL CO.. window
Mrs. Morgan paused, and her spirits fell
n trit1e, for Johns face grew suddenly
clouded; "they are just perfect, and
would suit my style-match my eyes, you
know-and they are only two hundred
dollars. | want them to wear with my
white moire at Mrs. Cassel's reception. "
't1ndeed " was Johns comment, as he
coughed slightly, and deliberately seated
his wife on an ottoman at his side.
"Cecir'-he rose slowly to his feet-'I
am sorry to refuse you, but cannot spare
that amount of money at present.
'But they are just lovely, John" per-
sisted Mrs. Morgan, with heightened
color ''and so unique The settings arc
peculiar in design-so chaste and deli
cate, and they are so cheap, Only two
hundred for the complete set i"
"Cecil"-John Morgan looked as if he
was about to tell some very unwholesome
truths-''what would my employer.
think of my wife wearing a two hundred
dollar set of jewelry? Some of your
evening dresses have already excited COM
ment; but no one knew had walked to
and from the office, denied myself cigars,
and even the daily papers, to pay for your
extravaganza.
''My extravaganza ~ cried Mrs. Nor
gan, with subdued wall, as she put her
handkerchief to her eyes and burst into
childish tears-a weak woman's best de-
Tense. That's always the cry-my ex-
travagancem
mo, Cecil, - he said sadly, as he laid
his hand on the golden head, "yOu cam
not say that often reproach you with ex-
travagance. But / am tired of living on
fare only fit for hermit and the ever
lasting pihching iii everything but dress.
You do not need this iewery, and il
would not be advisable to wear it, if you
had it; for men with only moderate sal
aries, must put UP with moderate luxu-
ries. will deny you nothing in reason,
but you cannot have those sapphires.'
There was a ring of unmistakable de-
cision in his voice. He slowly drew on
his overcoat and gloves, evidently eX-
pecting some reply from his wife. But
she made none, and sullenly refused TO
look up, as he stopped to kiss her.
Don't let us quarrel over such
baubles, Cecil he said gently, as he
stroked the silken hair. Life is too
short to be wasted in foolish bicker-
ings.n
Then the door closed on him, and Mrs.
Morgan burst into a passion of angry
tears, for she had set her frivolous heart
on the sapphires and it was not often
she did not obtain her hearts desire. She
was a blonde, of the most attractive type
very lovely, with a flower-like face,
and a graceful figure that she loved TO
array in costly raiment. Her husbands
forced economy was often a sore trial to
her, and was the cause of many annoy
ing differences. Had she possessed
one atom of financial Judgment
she would have seen that their
present style OF living taxed her nus
bands salary to the utmost. But she
had been spoiled and petted child,
educated under fashionable influences,
and when, by one of those strange freaks
of fancy, John Morgan-grave, matter
of-fact John--proposed, Cecil, after the
manner of too many of her sex, married
him, with the expectation that her mar
ried life would be one long dream OF
satisfied wants for John was a rising
man, and expected a partnership in the
firm. But his wife's evident love of dis,
play weakened his chances of promotion,
and Cecil secretly fretted over the self
denial and economy her circumstance;
forced her to endure.
81 never wanted anything so bad il
nay life, - she murmured, as she dried hel
eyes and looked around the cosy break
fast-room, with its warmth and sunlight
tasteful furniture, chaste pictures anC
blooming plants in the bay window, "anC
l think John might let me have them
That hateful Mrs. Payn will be sure tC
be out in something odd in jewels. If
could only eclipse her 1 must hav'